5 Herbs That Repel Flies

With warm weather in the air, we are all looking forward to grilling out, swimming pools, sun bathing, and just generally spending time outdoors. We’ve waited all winter for spring to get here. But those first few really warm days always greet us with an unpleasant, little problem.

Bugs! The warm weather brings out the bathing suits and suntan lotion, but it also brings out the pests! Mosquitos, ants, yellow jackets, and the grossest of all: flies! Flies are everywhere in the summer. Nothing ruins a good picnic quicker than flies covering the hotdogs! Most people will turn to harsh, chemical solutions this summer to try and solve this most annoying problem.

But what if you have kids around, or pets? Maybe you just don’t want to be surrounded by chemicals all summer. If you are one of the every growing number of people that wish to find a safer, more natural answer, then maybe this article will let you in on a few all natural tricks to repel the flies this summer.

Don’t underestimate the power of these natural alternatives to chemical pest control. Many of these herbal remedies are just as effective, if not more effective, than their chemical rivals on the store shelves. You should, however, use caution if any member of your family has an allergy to any of these herbs or if someone who spends significant time at your home has an allergy to these items. A little commonsense and a little research should have you well on your way to naturally controlling the flies at your home this summer.

Most people don’t realize how many all natural remedies there are for everyday problems, so they just reach for whatever chemical product is being sold. Did you know that there are many herbs that just naturally repel flies?

1. Basil

Anyone that knows anything about herbs knows that basil is great for cooking. It’s easy to grow and smells heavenly! Humans love Basil. But guess who hates, Basil? House flies. House flies are absolutely repelled by Basil. The best way to use this all natural remedy is to plant Basil by you external doorways. If you have a large outdoor picnic area, try using small planters of Basil on your picnic tables. You are serving two purposes at once. While grilling out you can easily access your Basil for cooking, and the flies will stay far away during your lovely, summer meal.

2. Bay Leaves

This is another herb loved by cooks worldwide. Nothing puts the finishing touch on a big pot roast like a few bay leaves thrown in. But once again, as much as we love it, flies hate it. Other insects hate it as well like earwigs and weevils, to name a few. Keep these herbs growing nearby to discourage pesky pests.

3. Lavender

Lavender is the ultimate herb for relaxation. The calming, soothing smell can really make a bubble bath a true spa experience. People have been using lavender for centuries to make their homes and clothing smell sweet. It is also used in quite a bit of cooking as well. Flies aren’t impressed with lavender, though. Hang some dried lavender decoratively around your home to keep away those buzzing buggers!

4. Tansy

Tansy is not as well-known as some of the other herbs we’ve listed here. Tansy was used in ancient times as a strewing herb because it was believed to have cleansing properties. Tansy is a nice foundation plant for household landscaping as it looks very similar to marigolds. Tansy has the added benefit that it repels flies, though. Flies are not the only pests that find Tansy repellant. Ants, fleas and moths will also stay clear if this plant is around. An extra bonus is that this plant will even discourage mice from hanging around.

5. Pennyroyal

This may be one of the most versatile of herbs. This member of the mint family repels flies, mosquitoes and fleas. However, when planted on your property, and specifically around the foundation of your home, this interesting herb can help ward off mice and ants as well! Instead of killing two birds with one stone you’ll be repelling five pests with one herb! You should use caution if you choose to plant this herb around your home, however. Pennyroyal is dangerous when consumed, even in small amounts.

Clean and Green

When you choose a more natural path in your home, you can have more peace of mind that your family will be safe from harmful chemicals and strange side effects. People don’t realize that there is almost always a natural alternative to chemical solutions when it comes to pest control, cleaning supplies, and many other household items. A little research and attention can go a long way to preserving your families’ health this summer.

Sun Pickles

Gallon glass jar
Cucumbers
3 1/4 cups white vinegar
6 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup kosher salt
Dill to taste
1 teaspoon alum
I also added onion , garlic and 1 chili pepper
Combine all in glass jar set in sun for three days

Hiking Solo Tips For Woman

What is the number one rule to hiking? Never hike alone. That’s what I was taught in hiking classes, warned by friends and family and scolded by society.

Look, you’re going to do what you think is best for you. If you think that hiking alone might be for you, then follow the words of advice put together in the photo above to help you out. Gender should never limit someones experience of the great outdoors. Staying safe is always a priority and in the end  always listen to your gut. It will never let you down.

DIY - Frozen Mango, Kiwi, Raspberry Pops

Frozen Mango, Kiwi, Raspberry Pops

Summer is on the way, and we must prepare properly … with fresh fruit, of course. What we have here is a cool recipe for the hot summer days. You can get from using fresh fruit all you need and more .. vibrant colors and fresh flavors. You can use any fruit you wish.


Ingredients:

9 tbsp water
2 tbsp sugar
5 oz kiwi, peeled
6 oz mango, peeled
6 oz fresh raspberries

Servings: 4

Make a simple syrup by combining water and sugar in a small pot and bring to a boil; boil for about 4-5 minutes on medium heat. Set aside.
Puree fruit separately in the blender. Set aside in 3 small bowls.
Divide the simple syrup between the fruit purees and mix in.
Equally fill four small 5 oz cups with the kiwi puree and place in the freezer; freeze one hour.
Add mango puree and freeze 20 minutes. Insert sticks and freeze at least 2 hours. Add raspberry puree and freeze overnight.

Great Uses for Dryer Sheet

Great Uses for Dryer Sheets

1. Use in your bathroom. Cut your cleaning time in half. Makes bathroom mirrors and fixtures sparkle. Cuts right through bathtub scum.

2. Use to get sticky dust right off furniture, blinds and baseboards.

3. Cleans up stove tops and greasy cabinets quickly.

4. Soak paint brushes with warm water and a dryer sheet. Watch the paint come right off.

5. Clean dead bugs off your car.

6. Wipes pet hair off furniture and clothing.

7. Run a dryer sheet over thread before sewing to keep tangles away

8. Keeps mosquitoes away.

DIY - Lunchbox Icepacks

Make your own lunchbox ice packs from dollar store sponges soaked in water and put in ziplock bag. When they thaw, the sponge absorbs the water.

DIY - Homemade Sprinkler

Cool the kids off with this homemade sprinkler. Take a 2 liter bottle, and poke holes in it. Hook your hose up to it, toss over a tree branch and turn on the water! 

Local Event - Gun Show Bentonville, Arkansas

May 18-19 

Bentonville Benton County Fairgrounds 7640 SW Regional Airport Rd., 200

Show Hours Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4 Jeff Bowles

Twin Patriot Productions 479-225-0896

Local Event - Cabool Farm Fest and Outdoors in the Ozarks Expo

The Cabool Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 30th annual Farm Fest and Outdoors in the Ozarks Expo on May 10-11.

Events scheduled for Farm Fest include a 3D pop-up archery competition, chainsaw drag races, seminars, a carnival and more.

Admission and parking for the event is free.

For more information, visit www.caboolmo.org or call the Chamber of Commerce at 417-962-3002.

DIY - REVIVE your old paintbrushes

REVIVE your old paintbrushes and STOP WASTING MONEY!!! Before you buy new paintbrushes this year, check this out. Soak old paintbrushes in VINEGAR for 30 minutes. GOOD AS NEW! Soak them in water with fabric softener and paint won’t dry on the brushes.

DIY: Keep insects out of your drinks while entertaining outside

Great way to keep insects out of your drinks

What's for Dinner - Crockpot Orange Chicken & Orange Cream Freezer Dessert

Crockpot Orange Chicken

Ingredients:

2 large carrots, peeled and sliced about 1/2-inch thick
2 large red or green bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
8 ounces orange juice concentrate
2 cups Mandarin orange segments or fresh orange segments
2 Green onions, chopped
hot cooked rice

Directions:

Put carrots, peppers, garlic, then the chicken, ginger, salt, pepper & frozen orange juice in Crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours. Serve chicken on hot cooked rice on platter. Top with orange segments and green onions. Serve chicken liquid in gravy boat, if desired.

Orange Cream Freezer Dessert 

Ingredients

4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup butter, melted
3-1/2 quarts vanilla ice cream, softened
2 cans (12 ounces each) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Directions

In a bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Set aside 2 cups for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture into two greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. pans. Cover and freeze for at least 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine ice cream and orange juice concentrate until smooth. Spoon over crusts (pans will be full). Freeze for 10 minutes or until partially firm.
Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture; gently press down. Cover and freeze for up to 2 hours. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. Yield: 2 desserts (24 servings each).

How to: Save Heirloom Tomato Seeds

Saving your own tomato seeds is rather fun and has all sorts of benefits. Preserving heirloom seeds, ensuring a supply of your own favorites for next year, helping protect seed diversity, making a giant mess of stinky fermenting goo, it’s all there! It’s also pretty easy.

 As part of our seed selling business we save fairly large quantities of tomato seed but the process is the same whether you are saving from a pile of heirloom tomatoes or from a paticularily tasty one you just sliced up for lunch.

First things first, you need to get your tomato seeds out of the tomato.  You can slice them in half, in quarters, scoop some out of the one you’re eating or just use my preferred method: Squishing. A serrated grapefruit spoon makes a great seed saving tool, especially when dealing with smaller cherry tomatoes. Just cut them in half and scoop out the inside of the tomatoes leaving the skin and outer flesh behind.

Next the seed pulp is ready to be combined with water in a container.  Glass jars are simple and food safe, but yogurt containers and tupperware are perfectly suitable. The only really important factor is that the container needs a lid. It’s going to get stinky so the lid is not optional.

Make sure to label each variety as you go as tomato seeds all look very similar and the colored pulp is going to break down.
Place them out of direct sunlight and walk away for a few days. You’ll start to see the good seeds settle from the pulp down to the bottom of the container.

Now things will start to ferment. This fermentation process is breaking down the protective coating on each seed. After a few days and once you have a good layer of fuzzy stuff, dump it off, leaving the seeds in the bottom of the jar.  Any seeds at the top are duds, the good stuff is all at the bottom.  Top up the jar with some clean water and let it all happen again.  Once the seeds are starting to settle cleanly at the bottom they are done. Be careful not to leave things unsupervised for too many days as the seeds could start germinating.

Once the seeds are ready, pour off any remaining pulp and mold.

Using a strainer, give your seeds a final rinse. They should be looking rather naked by now.

Now you just need to let them dry.  A stack of clean rags or old tea towels work best, as paper towels sometimes stick.

Once again, label your seeds. Package them up a few days later when they’re perfectly dry and you’re set.  Next spring you’ll have more tomato seeds then you can plant.  Trading them with fellow seed savers and planting a few extra for gardening neighbors is highly recommended.

What's for Dinner - Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Honey Garlic Pork Chops 

Ingredients:

1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup honey
¼ cup soy sauce
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 1/2lbs boneless pork chops (6 4 oz portions)
salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: In a medium bowl stir together ketchup, honey, soy sauce and garlic. Set aside.
Step 2: Lightly season the pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper. Brush each chop with the sauce to coat.
Step 3: Grease the grill grates of an outdoor grill and heat the grill to medium-high heat. Place pork chops onto the grill, and cook (while basting with the sauce often) for about 5 minutes on each side or until the meat is cooked through (the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees).
(Makes 6 Servings)

DIY Water Hose Storage / Cleaning Station

This is just the neatest idea & is so handy for the garden! Your diy wash station that is so simple & get's the water hose of the ground. Make it your own.  This example shows a galvanized  pail screwed to a 2 x 4 that is in the ground with a bird house on the top. Roll the hose around the pail & inside a place to store brushes, small garden tools, and a great place to hang a towel! I just love it & is gonna be a summer project for me!

What's for dinner: Venison Roast

Venison is an excellent lean meat.

Venison Roast

half venison roast

2 carrots chopped

1 cup  mushrooms

half medium sized onion chopped

½ cup chicken broth

¼  cup red wine

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

½ tbsp garlic powder

½ tsp cayenne pepper

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

½ tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp minced garlic

1) Chop up carrots, mushrooms, and onion. Place venison roast and vegetables in crock pot.

2) Pour in chicken broth, red wine, and Worcestershire sauce.

3) Season with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, chili powder, and minced garlic. 

4) Cook on high for about 6 hours. If possible pull apart venison an hour or so before serving.

5) Pull apart roast, season as necessary for added flavor, and enjoy!

Note: If there is too much liquid in the crock pot close to serving time, whisk in a little flour to thicken it up. I continuously added in some extra pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder as it cooked for some extra flavor, so experiment as you go along. Don’t take my measurements of seasonings too seriously—just taste test and make it to your liking. That’s the fun in cooking, right? For health purposes try to lay of the salt a little. Your heart will thank you later.

2013 Missouri Spring Turkey Hunting - Regular Season: April 15-May 5

Missouri Spring Turkey Hunting 

2013 Seasons

Youth Season: April 6-7

Regular Season: April 15-May 5

There are several changes to conservation area regulations and managed turkey hunts. Check pages 8 through 17 of the 2013 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet listed below for details.


Youth Spring Turkey Hunting Season
Who May Participate:
The youth hunter must be age 6–15 on opening day.

Season Dates:
April 6-7, 2013

Shooting Hours:
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset Central Daylight Time

Valid Permits:
Youth hunters must possess one of the three following permits:

Resident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit
Resident Landowner Spring Turkey Hunting Permit
Nonresident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit
Note: Landowner permits are valid only on the land for which they are issued.

Youth Season Limit:
One male turkey or turkey with visible beard

NOTE: Youths who take a turkey during the youth season may not harvest a second bird until April 22. This is because the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird for the first week of the regular season.


Regular Spring Turkey Hunting Season
Season Dates:
April 15 –May 5, 2013

Shooting Hours:
One-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. Central Daylight-Saving Time

Valid Permits:
Resident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit
Resident Landowner Spring Turkey Hunting Permit
Nonresident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit
Season Limit:
Two male turkeys or turkeys with visible beard may be taken during the season, with the following restrictions:

You may only take one turkey during the first week from April 15 –21.
If you do not take one during the first week, then you may take two during
the second or third week from April 22–May 5, but you may not take them both on the same day.
NOTE: If you hunt during a managed hunt, season limits still apply.

*Above Information from Missouri Department of Conservation

Homestead Crossing Inc. has great hunting land for lease available. Don't want to lease? Buy your own land with owner finance options!  Contact Ed Johnson at 417-252-1067 Today!

From Everyone here at Homestead Crossing Inc have a safe & fun Turkey Hunting Season! 

Spring into Summer!

So far this year it's been hot and rainy. Though with all this rain the delicious blackberries, raspberries and wild blueberries and strawberries that grow here in southeast Missouri will  be plump and juicy sweet come picking time!  The gardens and farms will be happy for the rain as well, seeing how in August we'll all want it to rain sooner or later, as August is the dog days of Summer, we're all down at the rivers jumping from ropes tied to trees or if it's deep enough, bluffs.

Campgrounds get scarce this time of year, everyone is looking for the perfect camping spot when all the "free" campsites are taken and overcrowded down in the campgrounds. We have some great campsites available, near the rivers and they're private, so if you don't want to miss out on some perfect campsites check out what we have on our website and get in touch with Ed about securing your spot for the Summer or even the whole year, they're available for lease! (We have some Cabins as well!)